Numsa says it has been directly involved in the planned protest action proposed labour law amendments.
The South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) and its affiliates, including the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa), have planned a national shutdown on 25 April 2018 opposing the government’s proposed new labour laws.
The Portfolio Committee on Labour in Parliament will consider amendments to the Labour Relations Act, the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, and the new National Minimum Wage Bill when it meets again from 17 April 2018.
If the new Labour Relations Act is passed, it will compel trade unions to decide on protest action through secret ballots, which unions say would allow for more unprotected strikes.
Speaking to Political Analysis South Africa on 9 April 2018, Numsa spokesperson, Phakamile Hlubi said this amendment is “an attack on workers and their families.”
“In our history, under apartheid, South African workers did not have the right to strike. It’s really ironic that this so-called government is now the one that’s actually colluding with trade union federation leadership to take away this hard won right,” she said.
“We think that it’s very important for all workers in South Africa to join in this course of action because very soon if the government gets it’s way we will no longer be able to exercise this democratic right. We will be more exploited than we are at the moment by the bosses,” she added.
